Fattoush

Fattoush

The story behind the name

The name Fattoush comes from the Arabic word fatteh, meaning to break or tear into pieces. The name reflects one of the dish’s most important ingredients: pieces of pita bread, traditionally used when they were no longer fresh.

A simple Syrian tradition

Fattoush is a fresh Levantine salad made with tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, herbs and crispy pieces of pita bread. Sumac gives it its distinctive tangy flavour, while olive oil brings everything together.

The dish grew from a simple Syrian kitchen tradition: nothing should go to waste. Leftover bread could be toasted or fried and combined with the vegetables that were already available at home or in the garden. What began as a practical way to use leftovers became a dish loved for its freshness and flavour.

More than a salad

Fattoush is a reminder of the resourcefulness of Syrian home cooking. Simple ingredients, carefully combined, can become something generous and full of flavour.

For many Syrians, a bowl of fattoush brings back the feeling of a family table, fresh vegetables in season, and bread that was always given another purpose.